What To Expect
On your therapeutic journey
You may know that:
You want support but be apprehensive about what we may discuss
Feel overwhelmed with lots of emotions and not know where to begin
These are completely understandable feelings prior to starting therapy.
Hearing from both clients and friends that they did not know where to look for a therapist or what approaches might work for them, I understand it can be hard to know where to start.
This is why I wanted to create a space that was open and transparent about what therapy with me would actually involve to help people like you to make their own choices about talking.
Although there is no one explanation for exactly how therapy works as every therapeutic journey is different, I thought it may be helpful to give you an idea of what to expect.
how it works
Structure of therapy
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I’m a firm believer that one of the most important parts of therapy is the relationship you have with your therapist so that’s why I suggest we have an initial 15-minute phone call to talk about what you are currently struggling with, your hopes for our work together and to establish whether we would be a good fit.
If you are happy to go ahead, we will book an initial assessment appointment at a suitable day and time.
I’ll also ask you to complete some questionnaires prior to our first appointment to capture your progress through therapy.
If I think you would benefit from a different therapeutic approach or service then I will signpost you where possible.
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We usually discuss:
Confidentiality, note-keeping and answer any questions you have
What you are coming to therapy with
A bit about you as a person
Your hopes for coming to therapy
My initial thoughts around what support you might benefit from
Plan for support and book in more sessions
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Usually therapy with me is anything from 6-30 sessions and we can discuss this in our initial appointment.
We will regularly review our work together to check-in with your goals, see what’s working well and see if there are aspects we need to focus more attention on.
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We will plan for the end of therapy in advance and make sure you feel ready to take what you have learnt in therapy forward with you in life.
I will ask you to complete the questionnaires once again and we will reflect on your progress through our work together.
A Guide To Starting Therapy: Real-life experience of talking therapy from a client’s perspective
Read Blog Post
What Therapy Do I Need?
I feel strongly that when life feels hard and confusing, finding a suitable therapeutic approach does not need to be. Here are my simple explanations of some (not all!) common therapeutic approaches to guide you when making decisions about what support might suit you best.
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Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
Is aimed at supporting you to better understand your emotions and develop kinder ways of relating to yourself and others. Through doing exercises in session, this approach is designed to help you to feel better, not just think differently. It can be helpful for people with a critical view of themselves or for anyone experiencing overwhelming emotions.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Is a behavioural therapy aimed to help people take action towards living a life guided by their values and what’s important to them. ACT acknowledges that life does not always go to plan no matter how hard we try and feelings, such as, sadness are part of the human experience. This approach can be beneficial for people who have experienced a difficult life event or want to take steps towards the life they want.
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Is based on the idea that many of our problems in life are as a result of unhelpful thoughts. CBT can help you to identify patterns between your thoughts, feelings and behaviour which can be linked to your early experiences in life. This approach can work well for people who find it difficult to get control over their thoughts or find they are thinking negatively about themselves or the world in general.
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Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
Is a psychotherapy technique aimed to help people to process traumatic memories in their lives. The therapist may use hand-tapping, eye movements or sounds to help to connect difficult memories with different reflections and emotions. This approach can be helpful for people who have experienced a traumatic event, are finding it difficult to move forward and want to be able to process these memories.
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Psychotherapy
Is an umbrella term used to describe lots of different types of therapy. Often a psychotherapist will be trained to use psychoanalytic psychotherapy. This approach can involve saying whatever is on your mind which can help you to discover hidden meanings which may be causing you problems. It can be suitable for people who want longer-term therapy and those who want to use therapy as a vehicle to deepen their own understanding about themselves and their experiences.
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